Monday, May 14, 2012

Couture Communique Interview

Couture sends out a monthly newsletter and they feature one designer,
one store and then write about what is new leading up to Couture. Very
flattered to be chosen to be written about the month before Couture 2012!

Born
and raised in Manhattan, fine jewelry designer Pamela Froman began her
career working for couturier brands before breaking out on her own. Now
six years into her endeavor, Froman has built a brand that offers
bright, feminine pieces through a unique technique that renders a
distinctive look. Here, the designer shares her approach to gemstones,
the wearability factor of her jewelry and how architecture influences
her work.National Jeweler: Can you tell us about the Pamela Froman brand? Where and when were you established?Pamela Froman: The
beginning of my career was spent designing various collections for
couturier brands like Courregès, Valentino and Guy Larouche. As much as I
enjoyed the challenge of creating for renowned designers, I needed to
forge my own artistic path.
I began creating pieces on the side for
myself, and Pamela Froman Fine Jewelry was officially launched in 2006.
Everything is designed and created in Los Angeles, and I feel very
strongly about that; making my collection in the United States, not
outsourcing overseas.

NJ: What metals and stones do you primarily work in, and why?PF:
I work primarily in 18-karat gold, and I feel that’s what I’m most
known for, my use of multiple colors of 18-karat gold in one piece and
the special colors I’ve developed. By “special colors,” I mean my
18-karat yellow gold, which is warmer than most yellows it distinguish
it from the 18-karat green gold I use, and my 18-karat pink gold, which
is peachier to look good on most skin tones.
Also, I love irregular
surfaces, so most of my collection is textured with a special technique I
call “crushed”--I use too many tools to simply call it hammered.
Combined with a satin finish, this crushed texture gives a much softer,
more natural feel to the metal.
When it comes to gemstones, I believe
“semi-precious” is a misnomer; all natural gemstones are precious to
me. I especially love stones with irregularities that make them unique
works of art, like rutilated quartz, labradorite, rainbow moonstone,
opal and tourmaline. I also love working with “rough” or “rustic”
diamonds for the same reason; they’re so unique! However, the colorless
diamonds I use are held to a higher standard--they’re all brilliant-cut,
F-G color, VS quality or better, so even the smallest diamonds have
fabulous sparkle.NJ: What is new at Pamela Froman in terms of design?PF:
I design a lot of one-of-a-kinds. So there’s always something new! For
instance, I discovered gorgeous matrix Paraiba tourmaline in Tucson that
I am currently designing a collection around for Couture. I’m making
more fabulous one-of-a-kind cocktail rings for my self-purchasing
customer, and I’m adding more unique pieces to my platinum rutile
collection as well.
I’m also expanding my popular “Ombre Crush”
Collection, a combination of 18-karat pink and yellow gold, with new
designs which are repeatable pieces, but still unique because they’re
handmade.

NJ: What serves as your inspiration?PF:
I know everyone says this, but architecture has inspired a lot of my
designs. More specifically, old-world European architecture, especially
scroll-y wrought iron gates, and the beautiful domes of St. Petersburg.
One
of my favorite design elements is the scroll, as you can see in my
collections. It’s a very organic, feminine shape, and I love the way it
flows. I also find inspiration in fabrics and textures, and often the
gemstones I choose influence the design.

NJ: What is unique about your design? What sets Pamela Froman jewelry apart from other fine brands?PF:
I think that my special gold colors, and the way I mix them together in
one piece, are what really distinguish my brand. Also, I design with
wearability in mind. My “crushed” texture and satin finish paired with
high-quality diamonds lends an understated glamour to the pieces that
make them incredibly wearable. They can just as easily accessorize a
pair of jeans as they can an evening gown.NJ: What do you like best about being part of the fine jewelry industry?PF:
I love the camaraderie of the industry. The people in it are really
wonderful and passionate about the art of jewelry, and that is very
inspiring. NJ: Who are you designing for? Who is the Pamela Froman customer?PF:
My customer is a confident woman with a strong sense of her own
personal style, regardless of her age. She wants to be seen as a unique
individual, and her choice of jewelry reflects that desire.

2009 MJSA Vision Award

"The MJSA Vision Award recognizes the talent and innovation of designers whose work will have a profound influence on the future of jewelry design."

2009 AGTA Spectrum Consumer's Choice Award

The consumers have spoken: Pamela Froman’s innovative tri-color 18k gold jewelry is what they want!

Halle Berry in Pamela Froman "Crushed Hoops"

We love seeing this gorgeous woman wearing Pamela Froman!

2008 Couture Design Award for Best in Gold

The "Oscar" of the Fine Jewelry Industry!

Generation Next

One of the Best New Designers of 2008!

Welcome to our Blog!

We'll do our best to keep you updated on all the latest happenings. I'll tell you about our newest pieces, where Pamela's jewelry has appeared (magazines, television, movies, etc.), where the trunk shows are, and maybe just some random fun-facts as well. Jay will post some of the amazing photographs he's taken of Pamela's jewelry and, occasionally, Pamela herself might feel like posting something. So, now that you've found us, check back throughout the week to see what's new. We'd love to hear from you, so please don't be afraid to comment and participate in polls!

Best,Jilienne

P.S. Check out Jay's photography blog! (There's a link in the Main Links list.)